Spring Refresh (Your Mindset)

It’s officially SPRING! As I’ve scrolled around social media, it seems like everywhere I turn, people are talking about spring and anything related to being outside in the sun. Not to sound too ~philosophical~ but I started to think more about our mindset as we enter into a fresh new season in the new year. Especially coming out of a year as tough as 2020 was, setting ourselves up for success this new season is important. I brainstormed over the weekend some ideas to share with you suggestions on how to refresh your mindset for spring. I plan on listening to my own advice since many of these items, I can use some accountability in. I have broken this post up into four parts which are declutter, create/reform routines, hydrate/exploring your taste buds, and invest in your time wisely. Each part will depict a certain facet of my spring refresh mentality.🌸

Declutter:

  • Phone: Your phone is the first thing that I would recommend to declutter. Mainly because, we all spend so much time on our phones especially now that we are mostly staying home. I know for myself, all I do is look at several screens all day so making sure that I am looking at productive/positive items is essential for my wellbeing.
    • Social Media: Go through your social media accounts and unfollow any account that doesn’t bring happiness to you or if it puts you down. If there is an account you have followed for awhile and all it makes you do is be critical of yourself (comparing yourself to someone else, reminding you of mistakes, egging bad behavior on, etc.), then you don’t need it. Remove the toxicity in your life, starting with unhealthy relationships with accounts on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, all of it.
    • Pictures: Right now, pick up your phone and scroll through your camera roll and start deleting!!! Guys I have over 19,000 pictures on my phone. WHO NEEDS THAT MANY PICTURES?! Granted, it has about 9 years of memories, trips, friends and locations on it but still almost 20K photos is a little excessive. Even if you don’t have as many as I do, I can guarantee you there are screenshots, or double pictures of random things that you don’t need taking up space on your phone.

Create/Reform Routine:

  • Routines: I feel like before the past year, whenever I would see the word routine, i would instantly make a face, or sigh really hard. Let’s face it, it sounds like we have to go back to school and get into a “routine” which isn’t fun. I’ve had to learn how to repurpose this word in my mind in order to not instantly eye-roll once I thought about it.
    • Morning Moments: I recently wrote a whole blog post on My Morning Moments Routine which is linked here. This post talks about how I structure my mornings to get my mindset right before the day takes off. I go into detail on how I try to use a few minutes in the morning for myself and my health/wellbeing.
    • Evening Routine: Winding down in the evening is essential for me to have a good nights rest. I struggle with many sleeping issues but one component that helps me stay asleep most nights is to wind down about 30 minutes-an hour before I want to sleep and just focus on less technology. Turning off my phone, TV and laptop helps me unplug a bit and focus on my skincare, taking my night supplements and basically shut off my brain so it doesn’t keep running at night. I haven’t made a post about my full evening routine yet but if that’s something y’all are interested in, let me know!

Stay Hydrated/Explore Your Tastebuds

  • What you put into your body is so important! I am a strong believer in nourishing your body and that all whole/fresh foods + water are all your body needs to truly thrive (not just survive).
    • Drink More Water: I feel like this is also everywhere…. every health nut on the internet is pushing water on to me, but they aren’t all wrong. I think it’s important to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day but not to the point where you’re obsessed with finishing all these gallons of water. I have found that increasing my water intake by a few ounces every day has made such a difference in how I feel throughout the day, how much energy I have by the end of the work-day, and by how less excruciating headaches I get. The rule of thumb I follow is that I try to drink half my weight in oz of water. So around 60 oz a day is what I strive to have for my daily water intake.
    • Fruits and Veggies: I’m not a nutritionist or anything certified so you can feel free to take or leave my advice here but this is how I’m shaping up my mindset for spring. Fruits and veggies are never your enemy…. unless it is in excess. With that being said, I’ve never heard anyone say they’ve eaten too many carrots and that’s how they feel uncomfortable with their body… have you? Just some food for thought here. I want to increase the amount of fruits and veggies I eat. Naturally, I think we all tend to reach for fruits in the warmer months since they are juicy and refreshing. However I want to make a solid effort in trying to expand my veggie selection. I want to try a few new veggies and learn recipes to make them a couple different styles so I can switch things up a bit. I think finding the right ingredients is key because no one said we have to eat broccoli raw to feel our best.

Invest Your Time Wisely:

  • This one has a lot of creative license attached to it. There are so many possibilities associated with this facet of a spring refresh. Now is your time to pick something new to try out or pick back up an old hobby that you led slip away previously. Remember, no better time than the present to start.
    • Whatever the hobby is, try to see if you can spend some time outside doing it. Currently, I’m sitting on the patio in the sun writing this blog. My blog is for sure my passion project and I have loved every single minute of writing and creating content. However, the cherry on top has been getting out in the sun to create as well. Now that the warmer months are right around the corner, you can take advantage of the temperature.
    • Name an accountability partner! You don’t necessarily have to pick a hobby that you can do with someone else but it is nice to know another person is looking out for you. For example, I didn’t start a blog with 2 creators, but instead I have a close accountability partners to ensure that I am keeping up my posts and still having ~fun~ through it all. Your accountability partner should be someone you trust and that you have no issues keeping in contact with.

Alrighty, that brings us to the wrap up of this post. All of these items I have laid out are just suggestions on how to focus on your mental wellbeing through spring. I always try to find ways to “up my game” in the spring since this is essentially the time to get rid of the old (habits) and bring in the new (growth). I would love to hear if you plan on implementing any of these strategies this spring or if there is another way that you are planning on improving your wellness. As always, thank you for continuing to read my posts and supporting my passion project 💗

XOXO

–Sara 💋

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** All thoughts are my own on this blog post and the pictures belong to me.

My Smile Express Has Arrived

My Smile Express package has arrived!! I’m so excited to share that I have officially begun my Invisalign journey this week! I am currently on day 5 of my first set of trays since my first day was this past Monday. I have been thinking about getting Invisalign for several months and I finally took the plunge this winter to begin the process. Before I talk about the specifics, I am going to provide a bit of a background so that everything makes sense by the end of this post.

Backstory:

I had braces for about a year when I was in 8th grade going into high school. I didn’t have too many issues with my teeth back then so we went ahead and opted to do braces since that was very standard. My experience was great and I loved how my teeth were super straight when I got them off. A few years later when I was a freshman in college, my dentist told me that I needed to get my wisdom teeth removed. They didn’t hurt me at the time but he advised that they were growing in and it was going to overcrowd my mouth. With this in mind, I had wisdom teeth surgery where all four were removed but there was an excessive amount of swelling during the recovery process. It took several weeks for everything to be completely healed but by that time, my teeth had already shifted enough where my retainers wouldn’t fit anymore. While this wasn’t a big deal to me at the time in college, I knew I would eventually want them to be straight again. After graduating college, they weren’t my top priority but I did become a little more insecure about how my teeth looked when I smiled/laughed. Towards the end of 2020, I went to my dentist appointment where I brought up some concerns about having issues with grinding my teeth at night which resulted in a lot of sores in my mouth. I wanted to get some type of night guard as protection because it was getting to the point of having 3-4 in my mouth weekly. My dentist said he could customize a guard for me but encouraged me the if I was going to straighten up my teeth, now would be the time to do it. Unfortunately, I also was told that my orthodontist who did my braces sold his practice and is no longer in the area. SO that brings us to present day…

Why I Chose Northern Virginia Orthodontics? 🧡

Completely candidly, I heard from Northern Virginia Orthodontics (NVO) through a flyer I got in my mailbox. There was a promotion going on at the time so they were trying to spread the word around the area. Since I couldn’t go to my old Orthodontist, I figured what the heck, I”ll look them up. When I did a little research on their website, I was instantly hooked. I called immediately to set up a free consultation, I figured it couldn’t hurt. They have several locations in the Northern Virginia area including Tysons Corner and One Loudoun but I went to the Brambleton location for my consultation. I’ll be honest, I was very nervous going to a new company to talk about one of my insecurities but the receptionist that I spoke to while setting up the consultant was very nice and super inviting. I went in with a mindset of just gathering as much information as possible and to make an educated/informed decision later. I learned that NVO is the #1 Invisalign Provider in the nation and the team orthodontist for the Washington Capitals (go caps!)! Since I was mainly looking at Invisalign options, I felt more comfortable going knowing their outstanding reputation.

As soon as I stepped into the office, after all of the necessary COVID safety precautions were taken, I was ushered through a series of offices accompanied with the most welcoming and friendly staff. I was immediately put at ease and felt the warmth that the office exuded. Plus a HUGE bonus, during the tour of the office I was given, I was offered a Starbucks drink from their Starbucks cafe they have ~in office~. This was such a nice surprise to be welcomed with and they made sure I was aware that NVO donates $1 for every drink served to the NVO Foundation.

Throughout the consultation, the staff were very knowledgable and kind while answering my questions. I met with Dr. Elvi Barcoma and she took a quick exam of my teeth. I felt very confident in talking about my concerns and options with her. She truly made my experience at NVO very comforting and I was pleasantly surprised with how excited I was in beginning my treatment.

What is Smile Express?

For my current teeth situation, it was recommended to me that I use Smile Express, a special program created by NVO, to treat patients that had similar stories to mine. I was an adult seeking minor straightening within my teeth but I had previously received orthodonture work so I knew the commitment it took. Smile Express only requires two in-office visits, the first to run scans to create the liners, and then the last one is at the end of your treatment plan. Since I agreed to the program during my consultation, I was able to use that same appointment to run my scans so that counted as my first appointment. Then the liners were made for me and I waited for them to be delivered straight to me! All 25 weeks of liners were sent in a box complete with additional instructions and a mini travel cosmetics bag with extra goodies inside. Especially while being cooped up inside due to COVID, I felt like this was the perfect program for me to invest in with NVO because it required limited visits to the office, convenient delivery, and efficient personalized results.🌟

My Experience So Far:

I put my first set of liners in this past Monday so I could always start my new liners on a Monday and so far, it has been great. There was minimal discomfort on the first day while my teeth were adjusting but after that I barely noticed them. I’m on week 1 of 25 liners so if all goes to plan, I’ll be finishing up the treatment by September. I have been brushing and flossing like crazy this week which makes me happy that I invested in quality toothpaste and floss recently as well. I am really excited with how the whole process has happened thus far. I felt welcomed and in great hands with NVO and felt confident in my decision to choose Smile Express. Eagerly awaiting to see my super straight smile in 6 months!

If you have additional questions about how I started with Invisalign, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to talk through my experience in more depth and listen to your questions. At the end of my treatment, I intend to make a wrap up post on my whole experience until the end.

Let’s keep those pearly whites clean and straight!🤍 Thanks for reading, as always.

XOXO

–Sara💋

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Feeling Lucky ☘️

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Welcome to another week, my friends. For those of you who have been reading for awhile, y’all know that holidays, big or small, puts such a huge smile on my face. Even just thinking back to all of the preparation I did in anticipation for Valentine’s Day a little over a month ago is fun to look back on. And before you say it, yes Valentine’s Day is considered a holiday in my book. In a couple days, I will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, a little differently because of the current situation we have all found ourselves in over the past year, but still celebrating nonetheless. Even though I don’t go all out for St. Patrick’s Day like I do for other mini holidays, I still like to keep things festive and fun💚

The best part of St. Patrick’s Day (like most celebrations) are the food and drinks, in my opinion. I love hopping on to Pinterest and finding colourful recipes to experiment with for the day of. In years past, I have made bangers and mash for dinner to fit the Irish theme. Unfortunately, since pork and I don’t agree ever since my recent diagnosis of health issues, Irish bangers were out of the question for me this year. Instead, I have opted to make Shepherd’s Pie, another traditional Irish meal, as it is one of my favourites. I had also thought about making a Guinness stew of sorts but I think I might try that next year instead since that takes a little bit more of experimentation for me. I have made Shepherd’s Pie once before so I believe I can confidently make it again. Fun fact, technically I will be making a Cottage Pie because a true traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie is made from ground lamb, hence the shepherd part. A Cottage Pie is made with ground beef which is what I will be using… but for the purpose of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s just call it Shepherd’s Pie and move on. I will link the recipe that I am planning on using here from The Wholesome Dish.

Dessert deserves it’s own paragraph. This is where you can let your imagination run wild since there are so many possible options. I have done some digging on Pinterest and will be providing you with some inspiration from my board. In the past, I have made green-dyed rice crispy treats, pot of gold jello shots, green frosted cupcakes, and shamrock milkshakes. This year, I wanted to make something a little different so over the weekend I was brainstorming and came up with Lucky Charm Treats. Taking a slight turn on the original rice crispy treat recipe, I figured it would be fun to cover Lucky Charms in the marshmallow instead. This seemed appropriate since the little leprechaun on the cereal box is always concerned about his lucky marshmallow charms! I thought that this was just my original idea but I looked on Pinterest to look up any recipes and of course, there were pictures of others trying this out too so although I didn’t come up with it myself, I at least have a guide to go off of.

Outfit Details/Inspiration:

Sweater: Aerie, Size Small- I actually got this sweater just a few months ago in the fall and I absolutley love it. Other than its huge comfort factor, its lightweight and I like that its slightly oversized so I can easily pair a bralette with it. Thankfully, I bought this olive green version of the sweater and since its still windy and a bit chilly outside, this is what I will be wearing this St. Patrick’s Day. No pinches for me 🙅🏽‍♀️.

Jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch, Size 28S- These jeans were a purchase from last year when they were on sale and I love this particular cut of jean because I think it is super flattering for us short people when it comes to the cut of the ankle trim. I also love to get my jeans from A&F since they have jeans in short which is what I have on. These jeans fit really well back then but I will most likely be getting another pair for this fall either in a 26 or a 27, they fit true to size! I couldn’t find the exact pair but I found one that is pretty close which is linked here.

Shoes: Steve Madden, Size 6- I got these mules at the end of the summer season last year for $20 at our local Steve Madden outlet and I remember being so excited! I went up a whole size in these because the pointed toe takes up a lot of space within the shoe. I love the snakeskin pattern with the flecks of gold detailing.

I know my St. Patrick’s Day will be low-key this year instead of going to an Irish pub or a bar crawl like I have done in the past, but I still think I can make it fun. Perhaps you’d opt to go to the store and grab some Guinness too? Whatever your plans are for St. Paddy’s Day, please let me know in the comments! I would love to hear your ideas and if you are planning on making any cool recipes🤍

With all of this Irish talk, it’s making me reminisce HARD when my family and I went to Ireland a couple of years ago before the pandemic. I’ll do a little photo dump below from the Guinness Brewery. Wishing you all the best of luck this week☘️ Thank you for reading!

XOXO,

Sara 💋

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #health #wellness #kindness #spreadkindness #spreadjoy #createyourownhappiness #lifestyleblogger #fashion #fashionista #fashionblogger #fashionblog #fashionstyle #fashionlover #fashioninsta #fashiondaily #fashionaddict #fblogger #ootd #outfitoftheday #outfitinspiration #outfitpost #style #styleblogger #styleoftheday #styleinspiration #styletips #stylefile #styledbyme #outfitgrid #lookbook #shopaholic #instafashion #bloggerstyle #howyouglow #fashionblogging #shoptillyoudrop #target #springtrends #springfashion #currentlytrending #spring2021 #springbeauty #march #createyourownlook #stpatricksday #weargreen #goodluck #greenforgoodluck #irishtraditions #Ireland #dublin

** None of the items that are listed in this post are sponsored and I do not receive any type of commission through using these links. Additionally, the images of myself belong to me.

My Spring Uniform

This week, specifically yesterday, the weather here in Virginia finally hit over 75 degrees and I instantly felt myself become happier as I walked outside. Does anyone else’s mood correlate directly with the weather? I have always liked being in a state that has all four seasons but it definitely makes me feel better when I am able to finally enjoy the warmer months. Now that the weather is starting to feel like its finally back on my side, I have realized that my wardrobe is still in the thick of my fall and winter clothes. For those of you who don’t know, I am 100% a seasonal wardrobe changer.🌷 I have several storage boxes that are rotated between the warm and cold months depending on whichever one I don’t need in my closet at the time. While I usually have a strict break between the separation of my clothes between the months, I try to keep versatile pieces within each set of clothes to make sure I can accommodate those awkward transitional months… like the one we are currently in.

As soon as I know that the 70’s weather is on its way, I know exactly what I am going to wear. How? I have a basic spring uniform that I wear during this time that I don’t quite feel comfortable enough to break out my shorts and when I can’t stand to think a sweatshirt. My spring uniform is basic but practical so that it can be easily adjusted and will still look like an outfit you put effort into creating. As a good rule of thumb, I like to have 3 colours/types of each item so that I can mix and match for the few weeks that we are transitioning in spring to summery weather. All details from the pictures are below:

Cardigan: Old Navy, Size M- Don’t sleep on old navy!! The week before I started my office job, my mom took me to our local Old Navy store in the mall and it was such a great experience because they have such good quality clothes but for great prices (and usually lots of sales to accompany). I remember I got several pairs of pixie pants and some nice tops and cardigans. Thankfully this lilac cardigan was included in that shopping haul. I have gotten so much use out of it and I think it’s the perfect spring colour. I sized up to a medium for extra comfort and a looser fit.

Lace Tank Top: Hollister, Size M- Oh my goodness y’all, this top is so old. It is kind of embarrassing how old this top is. It’s from Hollister (ahhh the memories) and I am wearing a size medium. Funny enough, it used to fit pretty well but now I can see that its a little baggy on the side, which is probably just natural wear and tear over the years, so I will most likely be saying goodbye to the top soon. Any simple white/ivory top will work as an option for this styled look. This top is also slightly cropped which I look for a relaxed fit. I also like the thick straps for when I want to take off the cardigan but not just have spaghetti straps on.

Boyfriend Jeans: Pacsun, Size 3- Again, another embarrassingly old item of clothing in my wardrobe LOL but I think this is just a testament to the a) quality of the item and the b) commitment to my clothes that I get the full use out of them. These jeans are bullhead from Pacsun and are comfortable but also feel like a true jean fit with minimal stretch. These boyfriend jeans are the perfect style for the spring because they have the rolled cuff at the bottom and minor distress with some patches behind the large holes so that wind barely gets through. I rotate through a few different pairs of jeans throughout the spring but I tend to roll and cuff the bottom fo my jeans (because I’m short) and I think it completes the look.

Sandals: Sam Edelman, Size 5.5- I got these sandals last year and I was so excited when they arrived because they are everything I didn’t know I needed. The nude sandal goes with literally everything in my wardrobe and then throw on the chunky rhinestones and I am SOLD. I sized up half a size as I usually do in Sam Edelman sandals because if I get my true size somethings they rub on the side of my foot too much. These were the perfect pair and as you’ll come to see I also got them in a light pink too. Seriously, some of my favourite and comfortable sandals since it has a cushion on the bottom and not just a flat sole.

As I mentioned earlier, I like to have a few different styles and colours of each item so that I can regularly interchange them and make a whole new outfit but still fit the same basic concept. Plug and play, as I like to call it. 🛍For example, right now I have 3 main cardigans that I can cycle through for this time period, the lilac one shown in these pictures, a green one, and a tan one so that there is a neutral colour as well as pops of colours to add to the outfit. Similarly, as I mentioned I have the nude sparkly sandals I wore in these pictures as well as a light pink pair and I also usually wear a pair of cheetah cloth wrap sandals to slip on and off. Neutrals, a pattern, and a colour are all within my rotation of sandals. I hope this helps frame a picture for you to create your own spring uniform or tailor yours after mine! Please let me know in the comments or DM me on Instagram @saraeliseblog to tell me about your spring uniform or if you have any questions or need advice on creating a look of your own.

Ahhhh at last, we can all enjoy the weekend! 🌸Thank you for reading along, as always.

XOXO

–Sara 💋

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #health #wellness #kindness #spreadkindness #spreadjoy #createyourownhappiness #lifestyleblogger #fashion #fashionista #fashionblogger #fashionblog #fashionstyle #fashionlover #fashioninsta #fashiondaily #fashionaddict #fblogger #ootd #outfitoftheday #outfitinspiration #outfitpost #style #styleblogger #styleoftheday #styleinspiration #styletips #stylefile #styledbyme #outfitgrid #lookbook #shopaholic #instafashion #bloggerstyle #howyouglow #fashionblogging #nordstrom #shoptillyoudrop #target #springtrends #springfashion #currentlytrending #spring2021 #springbeauty #march #springuniform #createyourownlook #plugandplay #springwardrobe #sandalsseason

** None of the items that are listed in this post are sponsored and I do not receive any type of commission through using these links. Additionally, all images belong to the owners of the websites that they are linked to.

Spring 2021- Currently Trending

Spring has finally arrived (even if the first official day of Spring hasn’t arrived yet…March 20, 2021) which is why I’m so excited to write this post and share with you all of my initial thoughts and preferences for the upcoming season. Whenever I think of spring fashion, I think of the movie, The Devil Wears Prada, where Miranda says “Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.”. 🌷Anyways, I wanted to go ahead and put this blog post together to give some style inspiration as we head into the warmer months. Whether you like the exact type/style/colour item that I include in this post or if you search around and find something similar, I just hope to be a resource for you to plant that style inspo seed. There are two different types of graphics I have created which fall under the categories of Spring Shoes and Spring Accessories. Additionally, I will list the retailers that I have used to find these items and will link them for you to start your shopping. Most of these items are on my wishlist but I have yet to purchase them, we are all in this together. With each link, feel free to explore the various sizes that are in stock and the different colours that are available. Currently trending…

Spring Shoes (from left to right):

Steve Madden Brionna Embellished Slide Sandal, $79.95 (Nordstrom)

Steve Madden Crusade Sandal, $69.95 (Nordstrom)

Women’s Cass Square Toe Heels, $29.99 (Target)

Steve Madden Nira Embellished Slide Sandal, $79.95 (Nordstrom)

Tory Burch Miller Cloud Sandal, $198 (Tory Burch)

Birkenstock Mayari Birko-Flor Sandal, $99.95 (Nordstrom)

Marc Fisher LTD Reanna Slide Sandal, $119.95 (Nordstrom)

BP. Giana Platform Sandal, $49.95 (Nordstrom)

Fiona Heels A New Day, $29.99 (Target)

Universal Thread Julianna Cork Wedges, $39.99 (Target)

Emmy Studded Crossband Sandals, $24.99 (Target)

Spring Accessories (left to right):

House of Want We Fashion Vegan Leather Shoulder Bag, $98 (Nordstrom)

Madewell Floral Lampwork Bead Chunky Small Hoop Earrings, $24 (Nordstrom)

Wild Fable Daisy Charm Snap Clip 2pc, $5 (Target)

Netflix To All The Boys 3 Scrunchie Set, $5.99 (Target)

Slip Pure Silk Adult Pleated Face Covering, $39 (Nordstrom)

Kristin Ess Scrunchie and Scarf Set, $9.99 (Target)

ALDO Nerallax Faux Leather Crossbody Bag, $55 (Nordstrom)

Kate Spade New York First Bloom Mini Pendant Necklace, $48 (Nordstrom)

Lele Sadoughi Garden Flower Stud Earrings, currently sold out after 2 days but keep an eye out for a restock (Nordstrom)

ALDO Dalsby Faux Leather Crossbody Bag, $55 (Nordstrom)

As the weather is slowly getting warmer, our spring clothes are going to see the light again. Of course, there’s always some twinkle of hope that we can add a couple of new items to our wardrobe as the new season begins. Hopefully, these graphics help you in finding some inspiration to add to your closet in the coming weeks. While I do like to find items that are trending, ultimately I look for timeless and classic pieces that can work in different ways year in and year out. I have a few more spring idea posts up my sleeve but please feel free to let me know if there is anything else you would like too see in a blog post in the coming months. Hope you can enjoy some time outside this week! Thanks for reading along and supporting 💗

XOXO

–Sara 💋

#blogger #blog #ontheblog #backtoblogging #ontheblogtoday #bloggergetssocial #bloggerlife #newblogpost #bloggingtips #lifestyle #liveyourlife #loveyourlife #confidence #health #wellness #kindness #spreadkindness #spreadjoy #createyourownhappiness #lifestyleblogger #fashion #fashionista #fashionblogger #fashionblog #fashionstyle #fashionlover #fashioninsta #fashiondaily #fashionaddict #fblogger #ootd #outfitoftheday #outfitinspiration #outfitpost #style #styleblogger #styleoftheday #styleinspiration #styletips #stylefile #styledbyme #outfitgrid #lookbook #shopaholic #instafashion #bloggerstyle #howyouglow #fashionblogging #nordstrom #shoptillyoudrop #target #springtrends #springfashion #currentlytrending #spring2021 #springbeauty #march

** None of the items that are listed in this post are sponsored and I do not receive any type of commission through using these links. Additionally, all images belong to the owners of the websites that they are linked to.

First of the Month Jitters

Welcome to March, friends!☘️ I’m not sure where the first two months of the year have gone, it seems like the year has been running. As today marks the first day of a new month, I figured it would be the perfect time to talk about what I do on the first of every month. I will break it down in several sections to make it easily comprehensible for you. The first of the month signifies a new beginning and a fresh start. March is particularly exciting to me because in my book, it is the first official month of spring. As a summer baby who loves the sun, I have eagerly been awaiting the end of the wintry months. As spring also represents the season of new beginnings, following a loose guideline of the points I’m about to lay out to refresh every month is helpful for me and I hope it serves as a helpful tool to you all too! For reference, I have already completed these items for March as I typically like to be done preparing for the month before the first day is over. If it takes you a little longer or if for example, the first of the month falls on a weekend, then taking a few days extra to get organized isn’t a bad thing.

  1. Plan for the month ahead

On the first of the month, I open my planner and look at the month ahead. If I plan for as much as possible in the beginning of the month, it’s less overwhelming to have to play catch-up as the weeks follow. Items to go ahead and enter into your planner are any appointments you have (dr, dentist, speciality, etc), trips you have planned (pre-covid of course), birthdays to remember, important dates and deadlines (eg. when to file taxes by), and self-care days (nail appts, hair appts, etc.). Filling in all of these dates ahead of time, especially if you already have them scheduled in advance, makes it easy to stick to them and also gives you something to look forward to throughout the month. These moments are a great time to think about what your month looks like. Does March seem like a busy month? Or will this be more of a recharge type of month? Planning out the month as much as I can on the first day honestly lifts such a weight off my shoulders because I feel much more focused and I know where to center my efforts towards.

2. Budget for the month

Before I actually jump into creating a budget for the new month, I go back to the previous month in my budget book and start totaling everything out for the various categories. I use a standard budget book to track what I spend on every month. I went ahead and looked at how I did in February to see which areas I could improve in and which areas I managed well in. By reflecting on the previous month before I create a new monthly budget, allows me the flexibility of understanding what would be a realistic spend structure for the upcoming month. While I’m creating my monthly budget, I first think of what the essential bills that I need to pay for are, the expected purchases that need to happen that month, and where I want to intentionally allocate leftover funds to. This looks different for me every month which solidifies my belief in revisiting my monthly budgets as much as possible. One month I may want to put leftover funds towards a debt (like student or car payment), perhaps its a saving month and I want to beef up my savings, or if I have extra money to splurge on with that month, I’ll know how much. I recently learned that every month is supposed to look different financially and thats a good thing. Many times we get tricked into thinking we always have to “spend less” than the previous month but since the 2 months aren’t identical then there is barely a comparison to be made. It is much more important to stick to your personal financial goals for that month than to try to “do better” than the month before. To me, it’s just important to keep it all in perspective.

3. Set/Reflect on goals

Since the beginning of the month feels like a clean slate, I think it serves as the perfect time to reassess the goals you set for yourself either at the beginning of the month or at the beginning of last month. This is a good reminder of where you are in achieving those goals and what more can be done in order to reach for one of those goals. Personally, I like to focus on 1-2 goals per month to make sure I’m giving ample amount of attention to each in achieving. What’s the point of setting a goal for yourself if you don’t take the time to nurture your path in achieving that goal? I choose a topic I want to focus my efforts on for that month and then choose either a book or an online course to gather more information and learn from. For example, if this month I wanted to focus more on gut health… I would look for a book most likely written by a well-known gastroenterologist filled with research findings. Or I would look online to see if those doctors offered online courses in understanding more about gut health. I would like to provide a caveat to this point though. Setting and achieving goals is important, but I want to stress that they are not the end all be all. Meaning that it’s okay to take a few rest days in between or just relax and soak up the day. Actually, if anything, those days of rejuvenation are vital to your success because you don’t want to burn yourself out. Finding time to pause and relax with your thoughts is never the enemy which is important for even myself to remember.

Even though February was a really fun month, I am even more excited for March to come because it is finally the start of spring. Temperatures will rise, the days will last longer, and hopefully there will be more opportunities to spend outside. I hope by using the points provided above serves as a helpful tool to guide you on a successful path in March. Please comment below if any of these tips stood out to you or if you are planning on implementing these strategies this March. Thanks for reading today’s blog post!

P.S. a little spring joke for ya- Does February like March?

No but April May. 🤣

Happy 1st of March everyone!

XOXO

–Sara 💋

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Let’s Get Ready to Shop Together! 🛍

Outfit Details – Cardigan: Madewell, Jeans: Abercrombie, Sunglasses: Quay Australia

** Disclaimer, if you are an email subscriber and are reading this from your email, click on the title of the blog post above so it will redirect you to my pretty website that I took a lot of time to create. It’s much better scenery then how this is sent to your email lol **

Happy Friday friends! We have made it to the weekend and I am so excited to have a couple days to sleep in and just relax. Throughout the week I was brainstorming some more blog post ideas and while I was thinking of different routines and products to share I realized that before I even start sharing my “favs” of categories, I should probably provide some guidance on where/how I get to those products. It’s easy to pick up items here and there throughout the year but if I left myself to that method, I would be picking up things more here rather than there meaning like all the time. Since last year was the first full year that I worked full-time rather than working and being a college student, I could budget better for every month since I had a steady source of income. I am going to share with you some of my secrets to shopping sales and not feeling like you’re breaking the bank.

There are a few sales that I look forward to every year which I plan most of my purchases around. I shuffled back through my old receipts and order invoices from last year to create a simple list of the big sales I mainly shop. I wanted to provide this list to y’all for both planning purposes and for myself to be held accountable. Remember when I said I was still a little nervous to continue blogging? Well if I share these shopping events with you, I’m more inclined to keep engaged and on top of my content for all of you. Anyways, back to the fun stuff- shopping sales. I don’t know about you, but I hate that feeling of “oh this just came up” when I see a really good sale happening or a shopping event I’ve been wanting to place an order with but it just popped up to me. This might mean, I overspent on my fun money that month or I had to forgo purchasing that time. Usually it was the former of the two… who’s with me? I have stepped away from that mentality and gotten more organized with both my spend-plan, or budget if you would like to call it, and planning for specific sales. I could have made a huge list with all the retailers and sales that I would’ve liked to shop but I try to keep the big shopping orders to a minimum and I also like to spread them out through the year so I don’t feel overwhelmed. I chose my favourite sales to feature in this post where you will find my breakdown of details below❣️ I have linked all websites to the brands so you can shop around on each site.

Last year and most years before that the Sephora spring savings sale was in April and spanned a little over a week. This sale is opened up slowly by tier level or your Sephora status with ROUGE being allowed to shop the sale first, followed by VIB and then as an INSIDER. This is one of the best times for me to stock up on repurchases and try out any new products in time for summer. I typically wait to buy any high-ticket items until this sale opens since these discounts applied are the highest Sephora typically offers. Luxury items, hair tools, and perfumes are great items to put on your wishlist before the sale goes live. I anticipate it will be in April again of this year and I will link you to my previous blog post about this sale here for my thoughts on 2020’s sale.

Do you even lift bro? All jokes aside, Gymshark is an athletic brand that I trust because of all of the high quality items I’ve purchased over the past couple years. This UK-based company is always releasing new designs but keeping the quality consistent. This is something that is hard to achieve in athletic wear but this company achieved it. I actually discovered this brand when I was living abroad in the U.K.. I still like to order from them since I have really grown accustom to their products and I have never had a problem with them shipping internationally. Gymshark typically only has two sales a year, their summer or birthday sale and then a Black Friday sale. Since Black Friday tends to be pretty hectic, I chose to cover their summer/birthday sale in this post. Last year, I was able to snag such good pieces and I think I had about 10 items in my order for less than $200. I highly recommend checking this brand out if you haven’t already. I anticipate their summer/birthday sale to be in late June or early July this year.

Everyone knows Amazon… the question is does anyone know when their Prime Day sale is going to happen this year? It is typically in July but specifically last year due to COVID, it was pushed to October. I will be keeping an eye out for when they release the sale information this year. This is one of the best sales that Amazon has if you are a Prime member. I bought Prime as a college student a few years ago and even though the annual fee has increased since I’m no longer a student, I think the Prime membership is well worth it. For this sale, there are lightening deals, daily deals, and full prime deals… something for everyone to enjoy! Some of the supplements I take I buy from Amazon are included in the deals so I wait to stock up on those. There are also some great kitchen and electronic deals during this time. Once I have my own kitchen, I will definitely be placing a large order for some kitchen gadgets.

Ahhh the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, otherwise known as the NSale. This is like the Super Bowl of shopping events…. as I had to explain to my boyfriend last year. It is typically in July but last year it was in August and it did not open to everyone right away like in years past. Instead they opened it up by tier system, similar to the Sephora sale I mentioned above. I assume that this is how it will be done again this year because it was a good way for them to accommodate all of the traffic on the website due to an increase of online shopping. Unfortunately, this also meant a lot of items sold out very quickly the first few days when only top tier shoppers were allowed to place orders with deals applied. Since this is the sale that Nordstrom introduces their fall line and many fall fashion finds, I do most of my shopping during this event. Most items are new and exclusive to the year before the season even starts at a discount so it’s a great sale to shop. Once I finish shopping this sale, I typically don’t have to do anymore fall or winter shipping for the remainder of the year. I’m so excited to cover the NSale this year as apart of my blog! Nordstrom is hands down top 3 places I like to shop!!

  • Sephora (holiday) savings sale

The Sephora holiday savings sale is essentially the same type of sale as the spring one but in November instead of April. This is the perfect sale to stock up on previous purchases that may have run out through the year and to get some holiday shopping done. Sephora releases many gift sets during this sale at an excellent value so that shoppers are able to purchase items for their family and friends as gifts. I like to have a little list before I shop of the people I am planning on buying gifts for and then I look through various brands to see if I can find products that I think those gift recipients would like.

I know, information overload. I know this post is getting lengthy so right before I wrap up, I wanted to walk through very briefly how I plan to budget for these events. Since let’s face it when it comes down to shopping, many people just see $$$$💰. Now that I know ahead of time roughly when these shopping events are going to take place, I am able to plan better financially. There are two potential ways you could do this. For me this year, I have looked back at my old order invoices from last year’s various sales and roughly round those numbers up so I can have an idea of how much money I would spend on each sale for this year. Then I know where I can save a little more for one or the other. Once I have those numbers written down, I can either determine if I want to pull from that shopping sales events month to use money from that paycheck OR to set a certain amount aside every month and only use that saved money for that sale. This is the optimal way for me to shop this year since I already have shopped all these sales last year. Perhaps if you are unsure if you are even going to shop sales this year, you could set a realistic budget for shopping events this year and then split that among all 12 months (like a sinking fund) to accommodate for your purchases without overcommitting. For example, you could say you only want to spend $500 on any of these big sales for the whole year. If you divide $500 by 12 months that means roughly you would save $42 every month from your paycheck to and put it aside specifically to use for these various sales. This is a great starting method if you haven’t shopped these big sales before especially since it will also aid in not falling into the “oh this sale just came out of nowhere” trap we sometimes find ourselves in.

I hope all of this information was helpful! I want to share as much of my experience as I can with y’all so you don’t have to go through the expensive learning curve I did. Please reach out to me if you need any clarification or if you want to talk more in-depth about any of these shopping events/budgeting for them. I have also attached a blank sales schedule graphic above so that you can add in your own favourite retailer sales that might mean more to you than the ones I have listed. I can’t wait to go more in-depth about each one as the year progresses on. Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful relaxing weekend as we prepare for March next week💗

XOXO

–Sara💋

**All opinions are my own and websites are linked to retailers included in this post.

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You’re Such a 1!!!

Does anyone remember in the early 2000’s, there were all these personality tests that we could take to see which type of personality you identified with the most based on certain characteristics? 🦋 Even today, we can scroll on Facebook and inevitably come across a Buzzfeed quiz named “pick your perfect brunch and we will tell you how many kids you will have”… I fall for those quizzes all the time! There is something about personality tests that attracts people by grabbing their attention upon first glance. I don’t know where I’ve been for the past couple of years but I apparently missed the Enneagram train! If you feel as clueless as I was a couple weeks ago, allow me to explain a bit further.

I’m just going to provide you with the actual definition instead of beating around the bush here. All of this can be found on the Truity website as well which is where I took the test. On the website, it describes the Enneagram as

“a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people interpret the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram describes nine personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another”

https://www.truity.com/enneagram/what-is-enneagram

I’m not going to bore you with more definitions but I wanted to take the information straight from the source. A couple years ago, I remember hearing people talk about the Enneagram test and personality types which peaked my interest at first but I didn’t look into it further. Now that I have a little bit more time on my hands being at home, I scrolled past a post talking about their Enneagram number and a lightbulb went off in my head. The Enneagram! I still hadn’t researched what it was! That evening, I took the opportunity (and kindly asked my boyfriend to join me) to take the test on Truity’s website. It didn’t take too long but I focused on each question pretty deeply since I wanted to know what all the hype was about. About 15 minutes later, my results popped up on the screen. Enneagram Type 1: The Perfectionist.✨ When I tell y’all I CACKLED laughing, it was spot on. Of course getting sucked into all of the supplemental information, I read the whole page about Type 1’s. I’ll link the page to Type 1 here if you are interested in seeing what the breakdown was but the overarching theme of being hard on themselves, and striving to do the right thing basically runs through my blood. I couldn’t believe how many similarities the test pulled to myself, right down to some of my biggest fears (hello, failure). Plus, I loved reading the list of famous people who are also Type 1’s… Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Michelle Obama, Jane Fonda, I’m into it.

While personality quizzes may not be for everyone, if you are reading this, I highly recommend you to take the test.🔮 Go ahead, just do it! What is there to lose? NOTHING. I have linked the test here to see which of the 9 Enneagram personality types you align with the most:

  • Type 1: The Perfectionist <— me
  • Type 2: The Giver
  • Type 3: The Achiever
  • Type 4: The Individualist
  • Type 5: The Investigator
  • Type 6: The Skeptic
  • Type 7: The Enthusiast
  • Type 8: The Challenger
  • Type 9: The Peacemaker

After I took the test and of course, over-analyzed everything, I begged for my family members to all take the test too. Most of my predictions were right but it was fascinating to read more about each type and how it ultimately aligned with many characteristics of those closest to me. Was anyone shocked that I was a 1? HA no but to hear all about the core beliefs, fears, and driving forces was more than entertaining. There are still a lot of supplemental information about Enneagrams like wings, that I haven’t been able to quite grasp yet but I strongly implore you to research further and see what more you can learn about yourself or your loved ones around you. You can also look at The Enneagram Institute website here to get additional information. You’ll notice the names are slightly different like Type 1 is The Reformer instead of The Perfectionist but the meat of the information is the same. If you have taken the test, or after reading this you take the test, comment below which Enneagram Type you are!! I’m dying to know.

I hope y’all have a great week and stay warm! Thanks for reading along💗

XOXO

–Sara💋

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Don’t Be Afraid to Dream

It was a bit of a challenge trying to figure out what my next blog post was going to be because I felt a little uninspired this week especially with the icy gloom that has swept the country this past week. Check out my instagram for Texas-relief organizations and ways to donate. Anyways, while I was brainstorming some ideas, I realized that I had started to creep back into my shell again. For some background, I hesitated for so many months on starting this blog and the accompanying instagram because I was afraid of what people would think or say. Of course, those types of thoughts didn’t just go away overnight but I knew that if I didn’t start then, I wouldn’t have started at all. I would’ve kept finding excuses to put it off and justify with myself that I didn’t need to start. Why do we let our thoughts run our lives? In the past, there have been quite a few instances where I have allowed my thoughts, and nerves specifically, make my decisions for me. I have actively been trying to get away from this mindset for the past few months because in the end, those fear-driven thoughts only hurt myself, no one else.

Let’s talk about my blog as an example. It is very easy for me to go on a downward spiral about how I could’ve started my blog earlier or in a better way but what purpose would that serve? None. I would just let myself tear myself down and ultimately, diminish my self confidence. Our mind is powerful, we can’t forget that we have to nurture it to love ourselves and understand the difference between the idea of failing and actual failure. There is a clear difference and if we choose to believe that we are always going to fail at our ambitions, then we will talk ourselves into not even trying. What a disservice to not only us but those around us who could’ve benefitted from your ambition/goal. Shortly after I opened my blog back up almost a month ago, I came to the realization that there will be never be a perfect time to start something. If I had continued to wait longer to start my blog back up I’m convinced I would’ve pushed it off all together and tried to forget about it. I bit the bullet and just started. I tend to plan and over organize a lot so not really understanding where I would start was terrifying but in the back of my head I knew it was now or never. So I chose now, and since then, I’ve had such an overwhelming positive response and support from others that it reassured me it was the right decision regardless of the timing.

Hindsight is always 20/20… ever heard of that saying? I started to think back on how “perfect” it would’ve been if I had had the courage or confidence to jump on my dream of starting a blog back when I was frolicking around Europe for a few years or when I had very few responsibilities in college, but if I continue to think of what if’s, I won’t be able to live in the present and look forward to the possibilities of the future. I guess the bottom line I’m trying to get across is to not be afraid to start something new. It could be everything you dreamed and more or it won’t be, but you won’t know unless you try.

I challenge each of you to go into this weekend with a clear mind and pull those dreams that you pushed to the back of your head in front. Reflect on 1 thing that you would like to start or do and own it. Remember, there won’t be a perfect time to start, just start because you’ll figure out the rest on the way. To make it less intimidating, write practical and tangible steps on how to achieve your goal. Again my blog as an example, I had thought of all of these things that ~had~ to be done before I even thought of starting it but in reality my practical steps to just do it was to create the website, start writing my first blog post, and create an account on instagram. When it was broken down like that, it wasn’t just simple, it was achievable. I look forward to hearing from you on what your one idea is. Please comment below or send me a message on my instagram @saraeliseblog to tell me what you’re thinking. Additionally, if there is anything else you would like to see #ontheblog, feel free to share it with me. I’m open to all suggestions! Thank you for reading along and I hope your weekend is full of dreams 💫

P.S. Shoutout to Gabby for my beautiful new blogging mug!! 💗

XOXO

–Sara 💋

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My Morning Moments Routine

Another Monday has rolled around friends. Who is ready for this new week? Did anyone else eat their weight in chocolate this past weekend? No? Just me? okay. Really though, I hope that everyone enjoyed their Valentine’s and Galentine’s weekend even though we had to improvise a little bit more than usual this year. I have spent the better part of the weekend planning out some future posts that I intend to publish on the blog however, I was having trouble trying to figure out which direction I wanted to go in and after all of the recent V Day content I provided.

As I have begun implementing Motivational Monday on my Instagram, it has inspired me to keep the same positive vibe throughout my posts, particularly the ones released in the beginning of the week. With that being said, I have decided that in this post I will expand upon my morning moments routine that I had mentioned a couple blog posts ago in Self-Love Is In The Air. The nice thing about a morning routine is that it is completely customizable to every individual. If something doesn’t work for you, take it out or replace it! If you want to add in an element, go for it! A morning routine is special to everyone in their own way which is one of the main reasons why this past year, I have basically created my own because I barely had one before. ☀️🌈

*Disclaimer: this morning routine is after the daily brush teeth, skincare habits, and getting dressed have happened. For your dental health’s sake, I hope that brushing your teeth in the morning is already a solid habit of yours lol.

1). Meditate/Daily Affirmations- First, I choose a card from my deck of affirmations to meditate on. I’m not very good at coming up with my own words so I try to learn through various programs how to navigate my thoughts. This can be a word that you have struggled grappling with or a word that you want to describe yourself with. One of my favourites is “I AM WORTHY”. My meditations usually only take about 3-4 minutes, nothing too time-consuming otherwise I will have lost the battle before even moving to my next step. This step is crucial in my Morning Moments routine because it wakes me up and helps set the tone for the day.

2) Say a daily prayer/read through a devotional/sit with the Bible (or your Holy Book of choice)- This step in my Morning Moments routine is really flexible. Some days I only have a few words to say in a quick prayer, other days I want to take the full 10 minutes to work through a devotional page. Again, this routine is supposed to work for you and it will look different every single day because no day is the same. When I trust in the fact that it truly is all in God’s hands, it takes a lot of stress off me and for those of you who have met me IRL, y’all know I can tend to let nerves and stress run my body.

3) Goal setting for the day- After I have gotten myself ready mentally for the day, I like to make a mini list of things off the top of my head that I know I need to get done that day. After I have that list of items, I prioritize them by acknowledging the 3 most important items to complete by the end of the day. That way, I know where my efforts need to be focused and that I won’t just continue to add the same things over and over each day. This really helps me set intentions for the day early on so I that I can get organized as soon as possible instead of scrambling later. If stationary excites you as much as it does me, feel free to buy a cute journal to keep handy for this.

4) **New addition because of covid, positivity for 1 person- I didn’t do this pre-covid but now that I have spent almost a full year indoors and away from most of my friends and family, it can feel lonely sometimes. The last part of my morning moments routine is to think of 1 of my friends or family that I haven’t seen or talked to in awhile and send all positive vibes or pray for them. Once I reflect on how grateful I am to have them as a friend or a family member, I text/message them wishing them all the best and let them know I’m thinking of them. This is a very new step to me but so far, I’ve gotten such a positive response from all the people I’ve messaged and I want to continue it for the foreseeable future. It reminds me of who is special to me in my life and is my small way of spreading kindness remotely.

I want to emphasize that even though each step may look a little different everyday, I try to keep as consistent as possible. Whenever I finish with my routine, it puts me in the best mood and I feel confident in my abilities to tackle whatever the day throws my way. The list and order above is what works for me but it took me weeks to add things in and take things out and rearrange the order to understand what would motivate me the best for the day. I also think these types of routines are fluid and are meant to be amended if there are life changes or if you find that you’ve simply outgrown that flow of items. I hope this encourages you to reflect on how you spend your mornings and if there’s room for you to use this opportunity to set your mind and body up for success before the day starts running away from you.

I’d love to hear about your current Morning Moments routine or if you are interested in perhaps starting one up this year. Enjoy the rest of your week and stay warm wherever you are.❄️ Thanks for reading!

XOXO

–Sara 💋

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